After The Rain

The Tomoato's

The Apple's

The Agapantha's

The Hedge

We had about 35mm of rain over the weekend,

the garden was in need of "real rain".

You could almost hear it growing in todays sunshine.

And in other news - for the locals

The 2011 Reindeer Food Shoppe

is now open!

After school on Tues, Wed and Thur.

Fri and Sat most of the day

Jacqueline.

The Haby Goddess Handmade Kris Kringle

Firstly - I am back - all ZippyZippy orders have been posted,

keep an eye on your letter box if you have ordered a Santa Sack! 

A while ago I joined up with Jodie at The Haby Goddess 

and played along in the Handmade Kris Kringle.

I sent out a Red and White Bunting

A few Bunting cards, and some Fabric Covered Magnets.

As usual, I left it till the very last minute, but my pacel left ZippyZippy HQ

and Tanya should have her parcel by now, if Australia Post has played their part.

My parcel arrived this week from Lamina at Do a Bit..Everyday

A beautiful handmade bird.

Not only did Lamina create the bird,

firstly, she tea dyed the fabric, then hand printed the design on the fabric.

How lucky am I!

Thanks Lamina, I love her (I think she is a girl) 

she will hang proudly above my sewing machine at ZippyZippy HQ.

Pop over to Lamina's blog,

there is lots of lovely hand printing going on over there,

something I would love to try one day.

And, thanks to Jodie for organising the swap :)

Jacqueline

Quick Reminder

Just a quick reminder,

That Santa Sack Orders for 2011,

Will close tomorrow, Friday 25th November.

Not much blogging going on here at the moment,

but lots of sewing, cooking and mothering

Have a great Friday

Jacqueline.

Where Do You Fit In?

It's AGM time again at a lot of Kinders and Schools,

so I thought it would be an appropriate time to share this

Where Do You Fit In

Some keep their organisation strong

While others join just to belong

Some volunteer to do their share

And some are there who barely care

On meeting days some always show

While there are some who rarely go

Some always pay their dues ahead

Some get behind for months in debt

Some do their best, some build, some make

Some never do, just sit and take

Some lag behind, just let things go

And never help their group to grow

Some drag, some pull

Some don't, some do

Consider this

which one are you?

Author not know.

I saw this on a noticeboard in a caravan park in Yeepoon QLD,

many years ago while Peter and I were travelling around the county

Feel free to share it around your community :)

Hope you've had a nice weekend

Jacqueline.

Day 31 - Natimuk Fringe Festival and Farmers Market

Last weekend was the bi-annual Natimuk Fringe Festival.

Events happen all weekend

in the lovely little town at the base of The Mount Arapilies

We went out on saturday night to see the production "Highly Strung"

Pheobe Sparkle, was a 14 metre tall puppet, suspended from the Natimuk silo's

On the silo's, images were projected behind Pheobe as she told her story.

You can just make out the silo's in this shot,

Pheobe was illuminated and looked fantastic

We had to have freshy made fairy floss of course

On sunday morning, I ventured to Natimuk again to

The Farmers Market Plus.

There was lovely Art Badges from Tina,

if you are a local, you may have seen my badge,

well, this is where you can get them :)

fitzgerald.tina.m@edumail.vic.gov.au 

softies with attitude, also from Tina

Lot's of lovely head pieces from

Tizzy Bits By Jackie from Nhill

Tee's at Adelle's site

Adelle is also a local, trading as Skudia Designs

you can find her goodies

in her Madeit Store

And here is lots of lovely bibs from

Leah at Down Lovers Lane another local.

Leah also has a Madeit Store here

and you can also find her on Facebook

Here's a couple of local boys,

selling sheep manuer, chook wheat and heat bags

their mum made for them.

They are great little businessmen,

they bought a tinnie last year from their little business funds

and this year they are saving for a motor for it.

On Sunday they sold $325 worth - thats a lot of shit to shovel and bag!

If any locals would like some of their goods,

I have their number, I can pass it on to you

And there was lots of colourful music.

It was a great market, great athmosphere and lots of goodies to look at.

Thinking about it now, there was maybe more "other goods/handmade"

than there was produce stalls.

I did not manage to get out there as a stall holder

maybe next time - was nice just to be a customer and have a wander

And, that's Blogtoberfest completed!

It was easier than I thought

31 posts in 31 days - even though a couple of posts were a bit limp :)

See you soon

Jacqueline

Day 30 - We Have A Winner!

Thanks for all the entry's in my Santa Sack Giveaway

I never tire of making these, sitting, stitching,

thinking about the children they are heading off to,

thinking, will the Santa Sack be placed on the

end of a bed, hanging from the mantle or under the tree.

We hang ours from the mantle.

Anyway, down to business.

I asked "Ozzie" if he could pick a winner.

(he would not put the wig on for a pic though) 

out of my giant T.G Green Cloverleaf tea cup.

He gave them a stir...

And another stir...

And pulled out Catherine's comment - Yippeee

Congratulations Catherine from A Time To Create!!!

I wonder if she is still up,

I know she is a bit like me and wanders around blogworld late at night,

hope she is.

Can you let me know if you would like denim or linen

and what name you would like on your Santa Sack Catherine

that would be great :)

See you all tomorrow

Jacqueline.

Day 29 - Why I Blog

 Well, day 29 and 29 posts for Blogtoberfest - did not think I would get this far!

A gold star for me!

So, time now for a blog post about the blog.

Why do I have a blog?

My blog is to show a little of what goes on

behind the scenes at ZippyZippy HQ.

To give my clients a little insite about who they are purchasing from,

and a record for myself as to what I have created.

It's a place where friends and family far away

can pop in and see what we have all been up to.

(don't think they do pop in much though,

or don't admit to it anyway - let me know if you are here!)

It's a place to record our growing family,

our adventures and of course, The Veggie Patch

my "blogworld" is a place where I can connect and be inspired by other 

modern sewists, handmade sellers, and other crafty types,

Through my blog, I have found that it is OK to find

being a mum a bit tricky some days,

I'm not the only one - there are others in the same situation.

It's a place where I can share my idea's and thoughts.

I have found wonderful recipes and tutorials,

and have even met some other blogger's in real life.

When I tell people I have a blog, I have some awkward reactions.

Some don't know what a blog is,

Some are surprised that I have anything to blog about,

Some are eager to look.

Either you get it or you don't, each to their own.

So, thats why I blog

Why do you blog?

Don't forget the Santa Sack Giveaway closes 10pm Sunday 30th

See you tomorrow

Jacqueline.

Day 28 - Royalty and Rockstar

Last year we went to a "Celebrity" dress up 30ish Birthday.

The husband went as "Ozzie Osborne" and I went as "The Queen"

Thought this was a timely post as we have

royality visiting the counrty at the moment

Here's "Ozzie's" homemade stash

The birthday girl, Amy, "Lady GaGa" and her

hubby, Adam, "Gene Simmons"

Lady GaGa even sang a few songs for us :)

Heres "Blues Brother", Ray and his "Hollywood Want-To-Be", Lisa

"Amy Winehouse" also made an apperance

As did "Uncle Arthur" and "Dame Edna"

And, I just had to include

"Fred and Wilma"

You know when you get that invitation to a fancy dress do,

my usual reaction is - oh shit - I hate these things,

but once we sorted out what we would go as it,

it all came together easily and looked forward to the big event.

A great night was had by all, and

thanks for the use of the pic's Amy :)

See you tomorrow

Jacqueline.

Day 27 - A Haby Goddess Swap!

Jodie, over at The Haby Goddess

is having a swap style event,

a christmas - red and white swap in fact - just in time for the festive season!

Just so happens I have a large stash of red and white

I'm playing along,

If you want to join in too,

drop in here and register.

Registration closes on 31st October

Now... off you go

and see you tomorrow

Jacqueline

Day 26 - Game Set Match

Twilight Tennis started tonight

Very casual affair

Here's a happy snap of my team mates, Michelle and Louise

(sorry girls, but I can't take a pic of myself playing!)

We did'nt have a win - but we had fun :)

See you tomorrow for

Blogtoberfest

Jacqueline.

Day 25 - Tight Arse Tuesday - Powder or Pills

What is in this special little ball and coloured powder?

What' so special about it?

Stay with me now

Here's the front of the choice's

So many choice's, do you want

super clean, super super clean, super super super clean

or super super super super clean?

Here is the ingredient tables

Now read the ingredients on this one...

Then this one...

Then this one...

 Then this one....

Am I the only one that can not see a significant difference? 

They all look so pretty lined up, but do they really do a better job?

This is the one I use, the no fuss powder,

I have tried the others, and did not find a difference,

sure, I have to use a scoop, but that's not an inconvenience.

Now, interestingly enough, this container does not have a table of ingredients,

so I emailed Reckitt Benckister to get a list,

Yes - I did have a bee in my bonnett!

I am no scientist, but the ingredients looked very similar

(I can't seem to copy the document onto here though)

And now, the breakdown.

Quantum 40 Tablets $26.99 = .67c per wash

Maxi 48 Tablets $26.99 = .56c per wash

All in 1 56 Tablets $26.99 = .48c per wash

Classic 30 Tablets $11.79 = .39c per wash

and

Finish Powder 3kg $16.99 = .20c per wash

(I got 82 washes from a container)

I don't like grocery shopping and come home

ranting and raving to the husband about

how companies are trying to rip us off!

Yes Dear....

Well Mr. Finish, I'm onto you!

You can't fool me.

Better the cash in my pocket than theirs

Have to save the pinch the penny's for the scooter :)

 

And, obviously, this is not a sponsored post :)

 

Edited: After reading th comments below - I now use the Aldi powder or tablets,

they are yet cheaper again and doing a lovely job.

 

Rant Over

See you tomorrow

Jacqueline